Neurostimulation therapy usage diagnostics

• US 8,095,220 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2007
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Lee, Michael T., Vinup, Daniel K., Goetz, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertram, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US11/685,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20070156186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,764 Days
• Field of Search: 607/48
• US Class Current: 607/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36132 using patient feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades

Abstract

An implantable medical device delivers neurostimulation therapy to a patient according to a parameter set. A parameter set may consist of a number of programs that are delivered substantially simultaneously. When programming the implantable medical device for the patient, a clinician programmer may maintain a session log for the patient that includes a listing of programs delivered to the patient and rating information provided by a clinician and the patient for programs of the list. The listing may be ordered according to the rating information in order to facilitate the selection of programs for a parameter set. A program library that may include particularly effective programs organized according to a directory structure may be stored in a memory. One or both of the implantable medical device and a patient programmer may store usage information that provides an objective assessment of therapy use by the patient, and allows a clinician to later improve the therapy based on the usage information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing a plurality of therapy parameter sets within a memory, wherein each of the therapy parameter sets includes at least one program, and each of the programs includes a plurality of therapy parameters;

receiving subjective rating information relating to at least one of effectiveness of delivery of therapy according to the parameter sets in treating symptoms of a patient or side effects experienced by the patient due to the delivery of therapy according to the parameter sets;

storing the rating information and information relating to use of the therapy parameter sets to control delivery of therapy within the memory in association with the respective parameter sets, wherein the information relating to use of the therapy parameters sets to control the delivery of therapy comprises information indicative of a total amount of time that the therapy parameter sets have been used to control the delivery of the therapy during a period of time; and

providing the stored rating and usage information to a user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory comprises the memory of at least one of an implantable medical device or a programming device associated with the patient.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the stored rating and usage information comprises providing the rating and usage information via a programming device associated with the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the stored information comprises displaying a histogram that illustrates percentages of the period of time that each of the parameter sets was used to deliver therapy to the patient.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the stored information comprises providing a diagram that illustrates which of the parameter sets was being used to deliver therapy at various times throughout a day.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing information indicative of therapy activation and deactivation, wherein providing the stored information comprises providing a diagram that illustrates the overall usage of therapy during the time period based on the activation and deactivation information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein providing the stored information comprises depicting a calendar, and the time period includes one of days, weeks, or months.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

analyzing the stored usage information; and

suggesting therapy options to the user based on the analysis.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is a clinician.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the period of time comprises at least one of a day, a week, or a month.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the period of time comprises a total time of therapy delivery according to the parameter sets.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the period of time is selected by a user.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the information relating to use of the therapy parameters sets to control the delivery of therapy comprises information indicative of a total number of times that the therapy parameter sets have been used to control the delivery of the therapy during the period of time.